Lawrence County Weather History (Since 1950)
Provided by the National Weather Service Station at Lincoln, IL


Illinois Tornado Statistics

Average number of tornadoes in the State of Illinois in one year = 41

Most tornadoes in Illinois in one year = 124 in 2006

Least tornadoes in Illinois in one year = 12 in 1979

Intensity of Illinois tornadoes:  
Weak (EF0 & EF1) wind under 110 mph = 72%
Strong (EF2 & EF3) wind under 110-165 mph = 26%
Violent (EF4 & EF5) wind > 165 mph = 2%


Tornado frequency in Illinois by month:

January
February
March
April
May
June  
July  
August
September 
October  
November 
December 
1.2%
1.0%
5.5%
22.9%
24.0%
20.1%
7.4%
7.6%
3.7%
1.6%
2.8%
2.2%


 



Lawrence County Tornado Statistics

Reported tornadoes in Lawrence County (since 1950 - see map below) = 7  
[ranks 90 out of 102 Illinois counties]

Number of tornadoes in Lawrence County per 100 square miles = 1.9 
 [ranks 91 out of 102 Illinois counties]

Lawrence County Tornadoes 1950 to 2007


Strongest tornado to affect Lawrence County (since 1950) = F2 on
February 25, 1956 - Tracked from Richland County into Northern Lawrence County, dissipating near Pinkstaff.  The tornado did about $2.5 Million in damage, mainly in Pinkstaff and injured 2 people.

Details of Lawrence County Tornadoes reported since 1950

Location or County
Date
Time (CST)
Type
Mag
Dth
Inj
PrD
CrD
1 Pinkstaff
02/25/1956
02:33 AM
Tornado
F2
0
2
2.5M
0
2 Lawrenceville
04/03/1956
02:30 PM
Tornado
F2
0
0
25K
0
3 Sumner
05/03/1958
03:35 PM
Tornado
F1
0
1
25K
0

4 St. Francisville

04/19/1963
02:55 PM
Tornado
F3
0
10
250K
0
5 Lawrenceville
05/06/1971
09:07 AM
Tornado
F2
0
0
25K
0
6 Bridgeport
04/01/1974
04:17 PM
Tornado
F3
0
0
25K
0
7 Pinkstaff
06/02/1990
05:45 PM
Tornado
F2
0
1
250K
0
TOTALS:
0
14
3.1M
0

1. 2/25/1956: This tornado developed near Olney (Richland County), moving 20 miles before lifting in Northern Lawrence County East of Pickstaff. The worst damage was at Pinkstaff.
2. 4/3/1956: This tornado destroyed a large building at a sawmill near Lawrenceville, damaged a concreate building, and blew the windows out of several houses. The tornado was on the ground for
3 miles.
3. 5/3/1958: This tornado was on the ground for 3 miles. Damaged 2 farmsteads 7 miles Southeast of Sumner.
4. 4/19/1963: This tornado touched down 7 miles Southwest of St. Francisville in Wabash County, then clipped extreme Southeast Lawrence County before moving into Indiana. Ten people were injured overall in Illinois, with 100 buildings damaged or destroyed.
5. 5/6/1971: This tornado touched down 6 miles South of Lawrenceville, destroying several farm buildings.
6. 4/1/1974: This tornado first hit Bridgeport, destroying a bus barn and damaging a few houses. It lifted briefly, then touched down again on the North side of Lawrenceville, damaging two mobile homes.
7. 6/2/1990: Touched down near Pinkstaff and moved Northeast. A farm was destroyed;
one person was injured when a tractor was dropped on his leg. The tornado briefly lifted as it crossed the Wabash River, then touched down again in Knox County, Indiana.

 



Lawrence County Winter Weather Statistics

Normal Snowfall for Lawrence County:

November
December
January
February
March
April
0.8"
3.4"
5.5"
4.0"
2.7"
0.1"

Annual  16.5"   

Highest annual total = 37.6" in Lawrenceville (1977-78)
Highest storm total = 12.0" in Lawrenceville (Dec. 19-20, 1973)

Average number of days with snow > 1" = 6 days per year
Average number of days with snow 1 to 2" = 3 days per year
Average number of days with snow 2 to 4" = 2 days per year
Average number of days with snow 4 to 6" = 1 day per year
Average number of days with snow > 6" = once every 2-3 years

Average number of days with ice (freezing rain) = 2 days per year


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